eavy Metal Thunder stroke into freedom of
the youth. The song of Steppenwolf became
one of the first moments when the term
heavy metal was used, however in 1968, it
wasn’t used in terms of music. Heavy Metal Thunder
was a motorcycle model, the same that was seen in the
film Easy Rider starring Peter Fond as Wyatt vel. Captain America and Dennis Hopper as Billy, who travelled
across America tasting the freedom.
Easy Rider is an iconic movie. Soaked with marijuana,
LSD, cocaine and the idea of freedom, it takes us for a
ride across southern states: from West to East, where
the freedom is challenged by social barriers and society.
It’s hippie time: their manifest, life and resistance have
became one of the most popular and interesting film
themes. Easy Rider, however, is not interested in Vietnam war, politics or Woodstock. He seeks freedom,
1960’s lifestyle and counter-culture confronting intolerance, perfectionism and lack of acceptance. This is a
road movie embracing one of the biggest conflicts existing in many cultures and religions.

The characters in Easy Rider are not Americans who
live accordingly to the common social rules. Billy and

Wyatt are unshaven, have long hair and they question
American culture. Wyatt wears leather jacket with
huge American flag on the back. Billy has a more cowboy style: brown suede jacket with fringe and cowboy
hat. They got money for their road trip by smuggling
cocaine from Mexico to Los Angeles. Their Choppers
can be seen on the horizon. They are riding through the
wilderness of America to arrive at New Orleans where
they can chill out at Mardi Gras. Every now and then
they stop to smoke a joint. They meet a farm family, and
stay a bit longer with a hippie community. However,
the farther East, the rarer the sighting of friendliness
is. They land up in jail and are not treated like human
beings. Their freedom is contagious and they are joined
by a young lawyer George Hanson (Jack Nicholson).
Dialogues are improvised, but taking into the account
the number of smoked joints... one can even believe in
aliens that are the topic of the longest discussion in the
film. A long sequence of scenes during narcotic flush
at New Orleans cemetery is the most known part of
the Easy Rider. After reaching their destination, Billy is
content about their road trip. However, Wyatt says that
they fucked that up.
There is a lot of music in Easy Rider. Music makes an
important background to the journey of Billy and Wyatt. From Steppenwolf to Jimi Hendrix, the music is en-

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graved in the memory. Bod Dylan did not agreed
to use his music in the film.
This low budget film, being a Fonda’s idea inspired by Wild Angels, changed the perceptions
of many Americans. It redefined the culture and
society. For example, Fonda said that the idea
of the American flag on the back of the jacket
was inspired by John Wayne. When he had been
wearing this jacked in Los Angeles he was always
stopped by the police. However, a year after the
film première police included American flag on
it’s uniforms, equipment and cars.

Even today, Easy Rider provokes discussion, admiration and nostalgia. And it still defines a lifestyle.